Spectacle temple and method of making the same



Nov. 26, 1929. J. w. WELSH 1,736,953

.SPECTACL TEMPLE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME 'Filed Jan. 11. 1924 /2 Q v /fa /5 /5 "m1111111, 1- \\\\\wll11n Ornej/X? will actually break at Patented Nov. 2.6i, 1929 sains 'natuur Fries JAIYIES W. VELSH, OF PROVIDENCE,

RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO BAUSCH AND LOMB OPTICAL COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK SPECTACLE TEMPLE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME The present invention relates to spectacle temples and to methods of making the same. The invention is more particularly related to cable temples of the composite-metal-andnon-metallic type.

Temples et the said type, as usually manu- Ytactured, consist of a comparatively rigid body portion provided with a reinforcing metal rod, and a comparatively flexible earhook portion. The ear-hook portion may comprise either a non-metallic tube mounted over the metal rod and cut into helical form, as disclosed, for example, in the patent to Tlil/eish, No. 1,636,340, July 19, 1927, or one or more non-metallic strands wound around the rod, as disclosed, for example, in the patent to Clulee, No. 1,472,014, @ctober 23, 1923. The junction between the body portion and the ear-hook portion is in both cases very weak; so much so, that it the earhoolr tion is purposely or accidentally subjected to a little undue strain, a permanent set will take place at the junction; and it the strain is beyond a given limiting value, the temple the said junction.

it is therefore an object of the present invention to improve upon temples of the above-described character, to the end that the said junction shall be rendered as strong as ot parts ot the temple, but without impathe flexibility of the temple. Other and further objects will be explained hereinafter and the nature of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

n the accompanying a view ot' a spectacle or eyeglass temple bar constructed according to a preferred embodi ment ot the invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmen- 'z y perspective view of a preferred reinforcrod and hinge plate; 3 is a view of a reinforcing metal ribbon, wound into the orm of a tube; and Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate eps in the manufacture according to the ethod ot the present invention. The illustrative temple comprises a tube 2 of nonunetallic material, like Celluloid, Zylou and the like. ln order to avoid circumui language, such materials will er referred to under the single drawings, Fig. 1 is term celluloid. rlhe main body portion or butt oi the tube 2 tapers from the larger or torward end 4 towards the end 6 of smaller diameter. rlhe portion of smaller diameter of the tube 2 is cut into the form of a helix, as shown at 8, which renders it Very yielding. 'l1 he larger end 4 of the butt is provided with a recess 52 to receive a hinge plate 12 by which the temple may be pivotally connected to a lens-holding frame (not shown). A metal reinforcing rod is inserted in the tube through the recess 52, and the hinge plate 12, previously soldered or otherwise secured to the rod 16, is seated in the recess 52 and is secured therein in any desired manner, as by means ot a rivet or screw 54 that extends through anopening 56 in the hinge plate. 'lh-e tapered, helically cut portion oi the tube 2, with the metal rod 10 inserted therein, is then bent into the desired temple shape, shown in Fig. 1 as an ear hook. Temples of this type, as hitherto constructed, have been very wealr at the junction 14 between the body portion and the ear-hook portion of the temple.

To eliminate this weakness, according to the present invention, the reinforcing rod 10 protected or stiffened at the junction 14 by a strand of wire 16, coiled into the form et a tube, and mounted over the rod 10 at the weak spot. rThis stage of the manufacture is illustrated in Fig. 4. The rod is then subjeeted to the action of a reducing machine, which lengthens out the coil 16 and works it into tighter relation to the rod 10. This stage is illustrated in Fig. 5. As is also illustrated in Fig. 5, the reducing machine acts to separate the turns of the coil 16 more at the rear end, as shown at 18, than at the forward end 2O of the coil 16. This increased separation renders the rod gradually more yielding at the rear end 18 of the coil 16 than at the forward end 20, adding to the flexibility of the temple, without detracting from its strength. 1t is in this condition that the rod is inserted into the bore of the tube 2 through the recess 52 with a part of the reinforced portion ot the rod in the butt of the tube and the remainder projecting rearward thereof, into the el, ,i l coil portion 8.

comprising, in combination, a relatively rigid forward portion and a relatively flexible rear portion, said rear portion including a coiled metal wire member entering the rear end of said ferr-.fard portion, and a stiffening metal sleeve positioned about the part of said coiled member immediately rearwardly of the rear end of said relatively rigid forward portion.

le, i spectacle temple comprising a forward comparatively ri eid celluloid body portion joined to a roar ear-hook portion in the form of a helical coil of Celluloid, a comparatively flexible metal. rod in the ear-hook portion and extending into the body portion, whereby the ear-hook portion of the temple is flexible compared to the body portion, and a separate reinforcing metal member for the rod mounted circumferentially about and tightly engaging the exterior surface of a portion of the rod at the unction between the body portion and the eardioolr oortion, the forward portion of the tightly engaging separate member being mounted in the body portion and the remainder of the Vightly engaging separate member being mounted in the ear-hook portion.

15. The method of melting a spectacle temple that comprises applying a separate reinforcing metal member' circuniferentially about the exterior surface of a porti-on of a comparatively flexible metal rod so that a second portion of the rod extends rearward beyond the rear end of the separate member, compressing the separate member into tight circumferential engagement with the exterior surface of the rod to reinforce the rod and rendering the said rear end of the separ member with the rod therein more yielding as a unit than the forward part of the separate member with the rod therein, and placing a comparatively rigid Celluloid body portion about the forward part of the compressed member and a helical Celluloid coil about the remainder of the compressed member and about the said second portion of the rod.

16. In a spectacle temple, a flexible metal rod, and a separate reinforcing metal member for the rod mounted circumferentially about and tightly engaging the exterior surface of a portion of the rod, a second portion of the rod extending rearwardly beyond the rear end of the separate member, the rear end of the separate member being more yielding than the forward part of the separate member, whereby the rear end of the tightly engaging member with the portion of the rod engaged thereby is less flexible as a unit than the second portion of the rod but more flexible as a unit than the forward part of the tightly engaging member with the part of the rod engaged by the said forward part.

17. rlhe method of making a spectacle temple that comprises applying a separate reinforcing metal member Circumferentially about the exterior surface of a portion of a comparatively flexible metal rod so that a second portion of the rod extends rearward beyond the rear end of the separate member, compressing the separate member into tight circumferential engagement with the said exterior surface, and placing a comparatively rigid Celluloid body portion about the forward part of the compressed member and a helical celluloid coil about the remainder of the compressed member and about the said second portion of the rod.

18. A spectacle temple comprising a forward comparatively rigid Celluloid body portion joined to a rear ear-hook portion in the form of a helical coil of Celluloid, a comparatively flexible metal rod in the ear-hook portion and extending into the body portion, whereby the ear-hook portion of the temple is flexible compared to the body portion, and a separate reinforcing metal member for the rod mounted circumferentially about and tightly engaging the exterior surface of a portion of the rod at the junction between the body portion and the earshook portion, the forward part of the tightly engaging separate member being mounted in the body portion and the remainder of the tightly engaging separate member being mounted in the earhook portion, the rear end of the ytightly engaging member being more yielding than the forward part of the tightly engaging member, whereby the rear end of the tightly engaging member with the portion of the rod engaged Vthereby is less flexible as a unit than the remaining portion of the ro'd in the ear-hook portion but more flexible as a unit than the forward part of the tightly engage ing member with the part of the rod engaged by the said forward part.

19. In eyeglass construction, a temple bar comprising, in combination, a forward relatively rigid main body portion of Celluloid, a -coiled Celluloid portion extending rearwardly from therear end of said main body portion, a flexible metallic member within said coiled Celluloid port-ion extend-- ing substantially throughout the entire length thereof and entering the rear end of said main body portion, and tubular metallic stiffening means positioned about said flexible metal member within a part of said coiled Celluloid portion immediately adjacent to the rear end of said main body portion, said 4tubular stilfening means extending also into the rear end of said main body portion.

20. The method of making a spectacle temple that comprises applying a separate reinforcing member cirpumferentially about the exterior surface of a portion of a rod so that a second portion of the rod extends rearward beyond the rear end of the separate member, compressing the separate member into tight circumferential engagement with the said exterior surface of the rod, and placing a comparatively rigid Celluloid body portion about the forward part of the compressed member and a helical Celluloid coil about the remainder ofthe compressed mem- 2 metal sleeve over a portion of said coil, forcing said sleeve inwardly to compress the portion of said coil therein and to stiften the same, shaping an unstiifened portion of said coil to a curved contour, placing a substantially rigid celluloid covering about a part of said stiifened portion, and placing a coiled Celluloid coveringY about the remainder of said stifened portion and about said unstiifened portion. A

23. In eyeglass construction, a temple bar comprising, in combination, a forward relatively rigid main body portion of Celluloid, a coiled Celluloid portion extending .rearwardly from the rear end of said main body portion, a metal tube within said coiled celluloid portion extending through a portion only thereof adjacent the rear endv of said main body portion, and a coiled metal wire member entering said Vtube and extending rearwardly thereof through said coiled celluloid portion;

2li. In eyeglass construction, a temple bar Y comprising, in combination, a forward relatively rigid main body portion of Celluloid,

a coiled Celluloid portion extending rear.

wardly from the rear end of said main body portion, a flexible metallic member within said coiled celluloid portion extending substantially throughout the entire length thereof and entering the rear end of said main body portion, and tubular metallic stiffening means positioned about said flexible metal member within a part of said coiled Celluloid portion immediately adjacent to the rear end of said main body portion.

25. In eyeglass construction, a temple bar comprising, in, combination, a relatively rigid forward portion and a relatively flexible rear portion, said rearportion including a coiled metal wire member joined to said relatively rigid forward portion, a stifening metal sleeve positioned about a portion of said coiled member and extending along the same rearwardly of the rearmost point of L connection between said relatively rigid forward portion and said coiled member, and a flexible covering of Celluloid joined at its forward end to said relatively rigid forward portion and extending about said sleeve and said coiled wire member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto sub scribed my name this 7th day of January,

JAMES WV. WELSH. 

